By Jerry Choong
SHAH ALAM, March 12 — Over 30 Japanese companies have expressed interest in investing in Selangor, which is indicative of the state’s capacity in being at the forefront of the Malaysian economy, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said this was the result of a brief working visit to Japan, in coordination with Invest Selangor alongside the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), which produced a round-table conference in Osaka on March 7 and in Tokyo on March 8.
“The conference was also attended by the Selangor State Development Corporation and NCT Group as presenters, in addition to YB Dato’ Teng Chang Khim as the state executive councillor for investment and trade for the Selangor state government,” Amirudin said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He added that based on Mida’s projections from 2017 to 2021, Japan was the third largest contributor to foreign direct investment, at an investment value of US$804 million (RM3.63 trillion).
“Approximately 5,000 job opportunities were created, with the majority concentrated in Selangor via several large companies including Sony, Panasonic, Toyota, Denso, and Daikin, among others.
“Looking forward after four decades of the Look East Policy, Selangor’s capacity grows stronger as a peg for foreign investment to be explored by more Japanese multinational companies,” Amirudin said.
He said the state’s commitment is highlighted by the First Selangor Plan (RS-1), which sees the Integrated Development Region In South Selangor (Idriss) function as a new hub of the Malaysian economy.
“This new hub is centred in Selangor through the Selangor International Aeropark (SAP), the NCT Smart Industrial Park, the Selangor Business Capital (SBC), the Sepang Gold Coast Global Village, among others,” Amirudin said.
